Benefits of Walking

Ever since the day we were born, we always wanted to walk. No matter how many times we failed for some reason we just kept on going. As well as the obvious way of getting around perhaps we knew back then that walking had so many additional benefits and that it was necessary for a good healthy life.

Putting one foot forward and then followed by the other is one of the easiest things we can ever do, so if it is really beneficial to our health, why not do more.

You can do it on your own and use it as a way of relaxing and your own piece of private time, or you can do it with others and it becomes social and engaging.

Either way one benefit is that it can be enjoyable, so what other benefits are there?

1. Reduces risk of heart attack

It is a known fact for many years now that regular walkers have fewer heart attacks as well as strokes, which are amongst the highest causes of death. Walking also will lower your blood pressure, increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) which is of great benefit.

It is also known in some studies that in retired men that regularly walked more than 2 miles a day they were 50% less likely to die young. Similar benefits have been observed in women with significant reductions in heart attacks.

2. Keeps you young

Research over the years shows that walking improves fitness and physical function and prevents physical disability in older persons. Walking improves physical function and alertness in those taking part.
So what makes you feel young? Not having loss of physical activity, function and being able to do less or feel slow. So keep walking and it will keep you young.

Walking can also help you maintain a higher bone density which can also keep you younger.

3. Decreases risk of diabetes

It is known that walking for half an hour a day reduces your risk of diabetes. Thirty minutes of walking a day, that’s all it takes to render your muscles more sensitive to insulin. This prevents the building up of glucose in your blood as it is serving its function in your bodies cells.

Walking also reduces your body weight which in turn also reduces your risk to type 2 diabetes. It has also been observed that walking reduces the risk of colon cancer and breast cancer in women.

4. Decreases cigarette cravings

Once again a 30 minute walk per day has additional benefits. If you are a smoker it reduces your cravings, which may be helpful if you are willing to give up cigarettes.

Reactions take place in the brain releasing mood enhancing chemicals hence decreasing the craving.

5. Weight Loss

All exercise helps you lose weight and walking is very effective. Of importance is that of all exercise walking is the most likely to continue for longer periods so it can even be more helpful to losing weight than other exercise over the longer term.

Walking can also reduce eating cravings for similar reasons it can reduce cigarette cravings. (refer above)

Slims you right down, burn more calories than you eat and you are soon wearing one size smaller jeans and clothes. Likewise walking reduces anxiety levels which themselves lead you to overeat due to increased cravings for food.

6. Maintains a healthy brain

Walking as a physical activity keeps your brain healthy. Walking helps nourish brain tissue and stimulates its production of neurons, synapses, and blood vessels. This can help you maintain or even improve your memory, particularly when you are older.

Yes it is possible to prevent your brain from aging by walking and maintaining this physical activity for 30 minutes per day.

7. Reduces stress levels

Every form of excercise reduces stress levels due to chemicals released into the body called endorphins. Walking is great as it is easier to maintain over long periods than some other exercises for many people.

Think of the last time you went on a nice long walk, did you feel different? Perhaps you felt you returned in a different frame of mind compared to when you left. You feel more fresh, able and more healthy. Your mood is enhanced and benefits are quickly experienced making you less likely to become stressed or depressed.

Your results for the rest of your day can be totally different due to the benefits of walking.

8. Gives our immune system a Boost

Walking 30 minutes a day regularly can lower your risk to illness and even cancer by an astonishing half compared with people who don’t exercise. Importantly of all the exercise to keep you disease free, walking is a great choice as you are more likely to continue walking all your life than any other exercise.

So do some walking today and receive all the benefits from walking as soon as possible.